Mistaken arrest duel links

PALERMO: The fate of an alleged people trafficking kingpin who insists he is a victim of mistaken identity hangs in the balance Friday (Jul 12), with a verdict expected in a trial against him in Italy.Eritrean national Medhanie Yehdego Mered is accused of being "the General" of one of the world's largest migrant trafficking networks, with branches in Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Europe.But the man on trial in Sicily, arrested in Sudan in 2016 and extradited to Italy, insists he is carpenter Medhanie Tesfamariam Berhe.The verdict will be delivered inside a massive bunker in Palermo built in the 1980s for the maxi-trial against the mafia.The prosecution has called for him to be jailed for 14 years.It is not the life sentence one might expect for an alleged people smuggling mastermind with blood on his hands, and proof they know they have the wrong man, the defendant's lawyer says."They should just have said 'we made a mistake'," lawyer Michele … [Read more...] about Verdict looms in Italy ‘mistaken identity’ trafficking trial

Columnist Valle files raps vs cops over 'mistaken' arrest (Philstar.com) - July 4, 2019 - 4:48pm MANILA, Philippines — Columnist Margarita Valle on Thursday filed administrative and criminal complaints against cops who “mistakenly” arrested her before the Office of the Ombudsman. Alternative news site Bulatlat.com reported that Valle filed kidnapping, serious illegal detention and violation of anti-torture act and violation of Miranda rights raps against elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. She also filed administrative raps against the cops who arrested her at Laguindingan Airport after they mistook her for Elsa Renton, who has standing warrants for a string of cases. Cops released her after a witness said Valle was not the actual subject of the warrant. The authorities detained 61-year-old columnist for 10 hours. After filing the complaint, Valle said that she was treated unfairly and … [Read more...] about Columnist Valle files raps vs cops over ‘mistaken’ arrest

'Mistakenly' arrested columnist Valle mulling raps vs cops (Philstar.com) - June 12, 2019 - 2:39pm MANILA, Philippines — The camp of Davao Today columnist Margarita “Gingging” Valle, who was detained due to “mistaken identity,” will file a complaint against the Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group. In a press conference on Wednesday, Valle and other journalists condemned the arrest of the columnist last weekend at Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental. Police said they mistook Valle for Elsa Renton, who has standing warrants for a string of cases, but the journalist’s family believes it was an example of an attack against human rights defenders and journalists. Lawyer Katherine Panguban, of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers, said they would file a complaint against the arresting cops. “We are looking at the possibility … [Read more...] about ‘Mistakenly’ arrested columnist Valle mulling raps vs cops

(Agence France-Presse) - June 10, 2019 - 10:14pm MOSCOW, Russia — Russian authorities faced unprecedented pushback Monday against the arrest of an investigative reporter on drugs charges, with independent as well as pro-Kremlin figures urging his release. Journalist Ivan Golunov was detained on drug charges last week but says he is being punished for his work as an investigative reporter. As his arrest unleashed a rare show of popular solidarity, the Kremlin said it was important to "admit mistakes" and not repeat them, but also defended its law enforcement agencies. On Monday, three top newspapers Kommersant, Vedomosti and RBK published the same front page with the words "I am/we are Ivan Golunov" in giant letters — a bold act of defiance in a country where most media toe the Kremlin line. The phrase was drawn from the slogan "I am Charlie" that emerged after the 2015 killing of 12 people at French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo. Golunov, a … [Read more...] about Kremlin faces pushback over reporter’s arrest

MOSCOW: Three top Russian dailies on Monday (Jun 10) published the same front page in an unprecedented act of solidarity over the arrest of an investigative reporter on drugs charges."I am/we are Ivan Golunov," the Kommersant, Vedomosti and RBK newspapers declared in giant letters on their front pages.Golunov, a 36-year-old investigative reporter with Meduza, an independent Russian-language media outlet, was detained last week over allegations that he manufactured and dealt drugs.His arrest sparked outrage among Russian journalists and supporters who say the charges against him are a punishment for his reporting.Golunov faces between 10 and 20 years in prison if convicted.In identical statements published on their front pages, the three newspapers said Golunov's prosecution was an act of intimidation against Russian society and demanded an investigation into the policemen who had detained him."We demand that the law be observed by everyone and for everyone," they said.Golunov was … [Read more...] about Russian dailies publish same front page over reporter’s arrest